Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey there,
anyone recommend a good breeder & info site for beauty snakes??
which ones are the tamest?
what's the biggest general length I should expect... i keep pythons & boas...are beauties as easy to care for? what's the max cage size i will need for one or a breeding pair?

thanks again!!!!!!

Hi slytherin - First off, I received an email from Tony Lanzi about your trip to Withewater and Verbenia about a week ago. I had a great time out there with Tony a few weeks ago.

Now I better anwer your post. I like blue beauties, although I'm getting hooked on the ridleyi's. I've had Taiwans, blue beauties and a ridleyi for a short time. I would like to get some caves in the future. I'm on a list with Rick Cunningham, but I have to get off my lazy you know what. The Taiwans might be the hardiest and tamest overall. They seem to be more forgiving with husbandry and don't get so nervous or excited. This is just my opinion with what I have had and I'm sure there are those who have blues that are as docile as corns. The blues seem to generally be a tad aggressive overall. I really like the blues and it doesn't bother me if they are a little agressive, although it would be nicer if they were docile. The caves are very nice. As soon as I figure out to keep them cooler than I do, I will definitely work with the caves again. As far as breeders, I've already mentioned Rick at Cunningham's Elaphe who is at the top of this forum as sponsor. I would look at the user names of "colubridman" who has already had breeding and egg successes this season not to mention "kestrel" who has had eggs I believe. Good luck.

Terry Parks

I keep Taiwans and think they're great snakes if you don't mind a big snake with a strong feeding response (I know this goes against what another poster is saying, but mine have always eaten like there was no tomorrow). They tend to start out as squirmy little buggers and they are more active that the North American rat snakes I've kept. I've had my current Taiwan for 10 years now (he's about 7.5' long and as thick around as a soda can) and he's one of my favourites. My guy doesn't bite, other than a stupid feeding accident which taught me the value of long handled tongs for feeding, but he gets very excited at the idea of food. From what I've heard, Blues and Caves tend to have a bit more of an attitude. Lovely snakes though! If you're looking for something a little smaller, you might want to consider a Chinese (yunnanensis) or mocquardi.
Lora

Slytherin - Here's a pic of one of the Taiwan beauties I used to have in my collection.

Terry Parks

thanks guys I appreciate it although I think you have me confused with someone else....

"Hi slytherin - First off, I received an email from Tony Lanzi about your trip to Withewater and Verbenia about a week ago. I had a great time out there with Tony a few weeks ago. "

That wasn't me ...so where is withewater & verbenia by the way..lol

Sorry about the mix up.

Terry

>>thanks guys I appreciate it although I think you have me confused with someone else....
>>
>>"Hi slytherin - First off, I received an email from Tony Lanzi about your trip to Withewater and Verbenia about a week ago. I had a great time out there with Tony a few weeks ago. "
>>
>>That wasn't me ...so where is withewater & verbenia by the way..lol

does anyone have pics of a full grown one they can post?

The pics I've posted are of a 10 year old 7.5 foot male. I'm pretty sure he's full grown. I can't really take an up close pic of him that's full body, so I tend to focus on the head.
Lora

I see how many people even realize I'm out here now...lol Anyway, I've got both blues and taiwans. Hopefully this year I'll be getting either Ridleyi and/or Chinese beauties. Currently I've got 27 blues and 13 taiwans incubating. Of course, if my female blues layed 20 like Randy's I would be swimming in baby blues...lol Not to mention my female Climac should be laying any day now too...yippeee! I'm excited about that one...she's FAT! But, I'm not particular either way, the only exception is my LTC female blue which can be testy at times. Other than that, they are all as calm as any of my corns, only more mobile. Taiwans tend to be heavier bodied and terrestrial, and blues more narrow and arboreal inclined. Anyway, this is a picture of my original female and her clutch of 14 from this year.

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Conrad
Too Fast Reptiles
www.toofastreptiles.bravehost.com

Thanks for the breeding info Conrad. I didn't know what you were breeding this year and didn't intend to leave you off the list of beauty breeders. Congrats on the eggs and keep us posted when the climac drops her eggs. I got 4 eggs from my climac a couple days ago. She has bred for me the last three years. Sounds like with the other beauties you are hoping to acquire that you'll have a nice collection of beauties going.

Terry Parks

Yeah, my first clutch of blues should start hatching around the end of the month, and my Climac should be dropping any day now. I didn't have her on her last clutch, but her last clutch was 13. She's pretty fat so I'm hoping for a repeat this year, but anything would be nice. Yeah, I'm hoping to get the funds up enough to acquire the beauties that I'm looking for. This is my female taiwan prior to laying her clutch of 13.

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Conrad
Too Fast Reptiles
www.toofastreptiles.bravehost.com

Wow, 13 eggs in a climac clutch is a great clutch size. Your taiwan definitely looked big with eggs. Post some more pics of your snakes Conrad when you can and keep us posted. If you've posted pics in the past and I missed them, then I would definitely like to see some. Good luck with the hatchings.

Terry Parks

And I'm definately trying to keep you guys up to date more. I've been pretty slack about pictures and all. My first clutch of blues is due to start hatching around the end of this month and I'm hoping to get some good shots for you all without disturbing them too much. Last year I lost 4 that had split their eggs but failed to leave because I kept nosing in at them while they where hatching instead of letting them do their thing, and they drowned inside their split eggs...so this year maybe a couple shots and that's it.
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Conrad
Too Fast Reptiles
www.toofastreptiles.bravehost.com

Seems you're more interested in the largest Beauties, but I thought I'd throw mine in anyway, since it's a little beauty fest, haha.

This is the smallest of the taeniura subspecies, Orthriophis taeniura taeniura. This female is het. for calico and was bred with a hypo male. She produce five eggs last year (her 1st) and should do better than that this year. She's due to lay in a week, or so...


Looks like two different snakes, doesn't she?

This is my favorite taeniura. This female is about five feet long. They are smaller than the other taeniura and easier to handle. They are very hardy, another reason I like them. Taeniura is an awesome species...love all their odd behaviors.

TC
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Ratsnake Haven: South Korean Dione's ratsnake, bimaculata phases, mandarina locales, calico and hypo taeniura, Western and Southern Plains ratsnakes